Stamp or label holder



(Na Model.)

T. A. MCDONALD.

STAMP 0R LABEL HOLDER, MOISTENEB, ANDAFFIXER.

Patented Ma 25, 1886.

NV PETERS, Plmwulhngnphu. Washington by c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE A. MCDONALD, OF NEW ALBANY, INDIANA.

STAMP on LABEL HOLIDER, lVlOlSTENER, AND AFFIXER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 342,451, dated May 25, 1886.

Application filed November :21, 1885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE A. McDon- ALD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at New Albany, in the county of Floyd and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stamp or Label Holders, Moistencrs, and A'I'fixers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to devices for bolding, moistening, and affixing postage or other stamps, labels, and like articles upon envelopes, boxes, and other papers and packages.

The holder within which the stamps, &c., are contained consists, essentially, of a rigid post having a surrounding spiral spring, a stationary plate secured to the top of said post, a box or receptacle loosely connected to said post with capability of reciprocating vertically thereon, and havinglugs or flanges at its top, to prevent more than one stamp, label, 850., being withdrawn at a time, and also to prevent the entrance within the stamp case of water or mucilage, and thus protect the edges of said stamps.

The stamp or label moistener consists, essential] y, of a reservoir, within which the water or mucilaginous fluid to be applied to the stamps is contained, said reservoir having journaled in its upper portion a roller around which an endless band or apron, in connection with the affixing-fluid, revolves, and a loose roller or weight resting at or near the bottom of said reservoir, within the lower part of the endless band, for the purpose of keeping said band taut, all as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation, Fig. 2 an end elevation, Fig. 3 a top plan view, and Fig. 4 a longitudinalsection on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, of my improved stamp or label holder and moistening device, showing the stamp-retaining flanges on the box H. Fig. 5 represents in perspective a portion of the stamp or label holder; Fig. 6, a perspective view of the guard- Serial No. 183,547. (No model.)

frame with the stamp-retaining flanges there on; Fig. 7, a vertical section of a portion of the stamp or label holder, and Fig. 8 a vertical section of the moistener on the line 8 8 of Fig. 4.

A represents the stamp or label holder and affixer, and B the moistener.

In the drawings I have represented the stamp or label holder and afiixer and the moistener as connected to a single base, 0, having supporting-legs D. I11 this arrange ment the device is adapted to rest upon a table, desk, or other support, and in such case the articles to which the stamps or labels are to be aflixed would first beapplied to the moistening device and then placed upon the top of the holder and pressed down thereon,

whereby the top stamp or label therein would adhere to such article. In such construction the fluid-reservoir B and the base or shell E of the holder and the base 0 might be cast, molded, or otherwise formed integrally out of any suitable metal-such'as iron, brass, &c. or of other suitable material-as compressed paper, papier-mach, &c.or the respective parts may be formed separately and connected together by solder or otherwise; but the stamp or label holder and affixer and the moistener may be constructed separately, and the holder used as a hand-tool, in which case, after the envelope or other article has been moistened with water or mucilage, said stamp or label holder is placed upon and forced down upon the article to which the stamp or label is to be affixed.

E represents a shell or case, within which the operative mechanism of the stamp-holder is contained. This shell may be of any desired shape, and either plain or of ornamental design, as desired. \Vhen employed as a hand tool, it will conveniently serve also as a handgrasp. Vhen the holder is secured to a baseplate, as C, it is not necessarily essential that such a shell or case, as E be employed, although it is desirable to employ such, as it serves not only as a protection to the spring, but also as a guide for the stamp-receptacle in its vertical reciprocatory movements.

F represents a post rigidly secured at its lower end to either the shell E, or to the base 0. Surrounding this post is a conically-shaped v support for the stamps or labels.

spiral spring, G, having its diameter increas ing from the top downward, or vice versa, as desired.

H represents a box or case, within which the postage or other stamps, labels, or like matter to be affixed to letters,packages, boxes, or other articles are contained, the size and shape of said receptacle depending upon the size, shape, and number of the stamps or labels to be contained therein. box H has a hole, a. Depending from the bottom of this stamp-holding box is a tubular boss or'extension, I, which, when said box is placed in position, as shown in Fig. 4, encircles the post F, so as to permit of said box reciprocating upon said post.

J represents a plate rigidly secured to the upper end of the post F, to serve as a rest or This plate is removably attached to the post by screwthreads formed on the upper end of the post and in the holes in said plate, or by any other suitable means. The upper end of the spiral spring rests against the under bottom face of the box H; consequently, upon pressure be 7 ing applied upon the upper or outer end of said box, the box will pass steadily within the shell E, and upon such pressure being relieved said spring will force the stamp box outward to its extended position, said stampbox being guided in its reciprocatory movements by the post, and also by the side edges, 1), of the guiding slot or hole 0.

The stamp or label holding box or case may be either formed of a single piece with open top, and with the boss I on its bottom, and with inwardly-extending flanges or lugs, K, or said box may be formed in two parts or sections namely, with a plate, L, having the boss I depending from the bottom thereof, and with upwardly-extending side wings or flanges, M, on two or more of its sides, for guarding and supporting the edges of the stamps or labels and keeping them in position, and with a shell, N, having open top and bottom, and provided on its upper or outer portion with inwardly-extending flanges or lugs K, said shell being in such case slid over the plate L, and held in frictional contact therewith, so as to reciprocate with said plate upon pressure being applied thereto.

As will be observed on reference to the drawings, the stamp-holding box is first placed in position upon the post F with its bottom resting upon the top of the spiral spring. Then said box is pushed down, and the rigid plate J is then connected to the upper end of the post by means of screw-threads on the plate and post, or otherwise, so that it shall form a rigid rest and support within said box for the stamps and labels. The inwardly-extending flanges or lugs K, on the upper or outer end of the box, may be either formed integrally therewith by molding, stamping up, or otherwise, or they may be formed separately therefrom and attached thereto by solder or other suitable means, as desired or The bottom of the found convenient. These flanges extend inward] y a sufficient distance across the open portion of the box to preventthe stamp-moistening device coming in contact with either the edges of the stamps or the side walls of the box. By this means the entrance of the moistening-fluid into the box is prevented, and all danger of the stamps remaining within the box becoming moistened or gummed together is thereby avoided. These flanges also serve to prevent the removal of more than a single stamp or label at each operation of the device, as they guard the edges of and act to retard the removal of and separate each stamp. They also serve to retain the stamps within the box should the box become tilted or turned over.

The stamp or label moistener B consists of a reservoir, N, of either cylindrical, oblong, square, or other suitable shape with a slot or orifice, O, in its top portion, through which the endless band or apron P protrudes. This apron is of any suitable absorbent material, such as felt or textile fabric. Q represents a roller journaled in the upper portion of the reservoir and carrying the endless band.

B represents a roller or round weight of equal or nearly equal length to the width of the endless band, and of a length corresponding, or nearly so,with the length of the reservoir-case, so that it may have free rotary movement therein upon the absorbent band revolving, and yet be prevented from oscillating sidewise, and thus deranging the regular movement of the band. This roller or weight R, as clearly shown in the drawings, rests within the depending portion of the endless band, and performs the double function of keeping said band in contact with the water or mucilaginous fluid within said reservoir and of keeping said band taut and in frictional contact with the journaled roller, so that upon the article to be moistened being drawn over or across the journaled roller said roller and absorbent band will be revolved and a supply of moistening or adhesive fluid thereby furnished the article to which the stamp or label is to be affixed. By arranging the roller or weight R loosely within the lower portion of the belt the requisite tension upon the band to secure its proper operation is automatically maintained,which would not be the case were such lower roller journaled in bearings in the reservoir.

By constructing the stamp or label holder with an immovable supporting rest or bottom, J, with sides separate therefrom, and arranging the spring so that the side guarding and protecting portions only of the holder shall reciprocate, it will readily be seen that when in a position of rest no pressure is exerted upon the stamps or labels, and that they are consequently retained loosely within the holder, and will not adhere together, even in damp weather, as is the case in other stamp-receptacles where the stamps are in contact with a spring-pressed plate.

The postage stamps or labels are placed in the receptacle-holder and upon the stationary plate J ,with the gummed under sides uppermost. Any number of stamps or labels may be placed in the holder, according to its eapaeity. Then the holder is made in two parts, the ease or shell E is then slipped 011 over the flanged plate L, that holds the stamps, thereby inclosing the stamps and plate or holder L on four sides, the top being open for the delivery of the stamps or labels. In this position the stamps or labels are ready or in a position to be stuck to the envelope, package, box, or other article. The reservoir N is partly filled with water or mucilage. The endless band of felt or other absorbent is then placed over the roller Q, and the roller or weight is then placed so as to rest within the bottom of said band, and said band and rollers then placed within the reservoir with the top roller resting. in its journal-bearings. The article to be stamped is then taken in the hands and drawn over the roller on the endless baud, causing said absorbent band or belt to revolve and moisten the desired spot or place to be stamped. Then, when the label or stamp is to be applied to small articles, such articles are placed upon the top of said stamp or label holder with the moistened side down and covering the top, including the flanges K. The article is then pressed downward, which act will force down the stamp-holder and bring the envelope or other article in contact with the top stamp in the receptacle, and thus cause the stamp to stick firmly to said envelope or other article without disturbing the remaining stamps.

\Vhen it is desired to affix labels or stamps to large or heavy packages, &c., the stamp or label holder would be taken in the hand and placed over the previously-moistened portion of the package and pressed down thereon, su eh act resulting in the affixing thereto of the stamp or label in as effective a manner as by the method just described.

My machine or device will do its work very quickly and effectively, and is always reliable in its operation. It can also be made very small, so as to adapt it for use with postage stamps or of larger size for larger labels. It is simple and cheap of construction, and will not get out of order with any fair usage.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A stamp or label holder, afiixer, and moistener, consisting of a stationary vertical post, a conical spiral spring surrounding said post, a box or case to contain the stamps, adapted to reciprocate upon said post and having inwardly-extending flanges for regulating the removal of the stamps and guarding their edges, and a water or mucilage reservoir having a roller journaled in the upper end thereof, a'loose roller or weight beneath said journaled roller, and an endless band or apron connecting said rollers.

2. A stamp or label holder and aflixer consisting of a box or receptacle having at its outer end inwardly-extending flanges, to retain the stamps within the case, limit their withdrawal therefrom, and guard their edges, a spring having bearing respectively against the inner end of said receptacle, and also against asuitable base or supportingcase, a post or rod rigidly secured at one end to said base or supporting-case and extending therefrom through said spring and through the inner end of the stamp-receptacle, and a stamp-sup porting plate resting within the stamp-box and rigidly attached to the opposite end of said post or rod, substantially as set forth.

3. A stamp or label holder and affi xer having a stationaryvertieal post, a conical spiral spring surrounding said post, a stamp-receptacle consisting of a plate adapted at its bottom portion to connect with and reciprocate upon the post and having upwardly-extending side wings or flanges, a stationary plate secured to the upper end of the post to rest within said flanged plate and serve as a rest or support for the stamps, and a casing having open top and bottom and inwardly-extending flanges at its upper portion, said casing inclosing the flanged plate and being in frictional contact therewith and reciprocating with the same, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE A. MoDONALD.

\Vitnesses:

Guns. J. Gooon, G. E. J oNEs. 

